Tuesday, 8 February 2005

Heggessey Considers Leaving?

February 8, 2005 • Posted By Shaun Lyon

Yesterday's Media section of The Guardian noted that BBC1 controller Lorraine Heggessey -- who was instrumental in bringing "Doctor Who" back to British television, and who stunned us all with the unexpected announcement in September 2003 -- may be leaving the job. The report notes that Heggessey is being tipped to replace Peter Fincham as chief executive of Talkback Thames, the independent production company responsible for some of the UK's biggest shows including "The Bill." The BBC controller neither confirmed nor denied she had been approached about the Talkback job when contacted by MediaGuardian: "I'm committed to BBC1. That's my focus," she told them. The article(registration required) also metnions other possible candidates, suggesting this may be conjecture; however, it has been reported elsewhere in the press. Co-executive producer Mal Young also left the BBC at the end of 2004, though his departure did not affect the production of the new series.